Visual advertising works best when it does more than try to sell a product. We’re captivated by storytelling, emotional content, and visuals that, more often than not, make us go ‘what was all that about?’

But what are the tactics behind the most successful visual marketing – and why do they work?

Take a journey to discover the magic behind those McDonald’s ads – and see why colour psychology is so crucial.

Moz – How Does the Local Algorithm Work? – Whiteboard Friday

We all know Google likes to keep its highly coveted organic SEO secrets as far away from our eyes as possible.

And that goes for local search, too.

In fact, for organic and local listings, Google relies on different sets of algorithms and factors to relay appropriate information back to its users.

When we ask Googleabout how their local ranking actually works, this is what they have to say:

Local results are based primarily on relevance, distance, and prominence. These factors are combined to help find the best match for your search. For example, Google algorithms might decide that a business that’s farther away from your location is more likely to have what you’re looking for than a business that’s closer, and therefore rank it higher in local results.

When it comes to local search, you may have noticed Google likes to display information differently than if you were searching for something more general.

Let’s say you were searching for wedding catering – a search with clear local intent. (You’re obviously not looking for wedding catering on the other side of the world.)

As Joy Hawkins (@JoyanneHawkins) points out, Google will pick up on this signal and display, as you may know, what’s called a ‘3-pack’.

‘3-packs’ consist of a local map, 3 local listings, and organic results listed below.

So, we know that relevance, distance, and prominence are all integral to local search. But now it’s time to break each one down to better inform your optimisation.

A backlink is a link originating from a different website to your website. You might have seen them being referred to as inbound links.

Now when we say link, we don’t just mean your standard URL link.

We’re talking images and other graphical elements, too. Basically, a backlink exists when somebody can get to your website from a different one.

You’ve heard backlinks and SEO being chucked about all the time; what’s the big deal?

When it comes to search engine optimisation, Google favours websites that are authoritative.

And when a respected, well-liked source links to your website, this is a clear signal to Google that visitors who spend time on that website will also like your website, too. Your website’s authority ranking is getting that bag.

Which means, as Irina Nica (@nicairinica) points out in their HubSpot article, backlinks are one of the most important ranking factors for search engines.

It’s great that backlinks are clearly important. But how do you go about getting them?

Times have indeed changed, and many outdated tactics are now seen as ‘black hat’ – techniques viewed as malicious by Google.

Today, behind every search, order form, and online conference call, is internet connectivity powering it all.

Ever since those clever people built computers and eventually the internet – web speed has only been increasing.

Here’s something that’ll blow your mind.

If the world wide web was the speed of a walking ant during the mid-nineties, then (relatively speaking, of course) today it has burst the sound barrier – overtaking high-speed trains, rocket ships, and bullets.

Clocking in at 2GBPS (datafrom 2016), cable connection speeds are said to equal that of the Voyager 1 space probe launched in 1977!

But behind every satisfied online customer journey isn’t just the final product or service they’re getting.

In this crazy, competitive world where small businesses are pitched up against larger ones in a digital David & Goliath standoff – having an attractive online portfolio means customers can see exactly what you have on offer.

Today, the gig market is increasing by the day, catering to short-term contracts often sought by freelancers.

In fact, data taken from just last year shows that around 56 million workers in the US carried out some form of freelance.

With more independent, self-employed people on the market naturally comes more competition in the game.

And showing what you have to offer is the best way to distinguish yourself from that competition.

Enter the portfolio page.

Whether you bake corporate cupcakes or design low-cost websites, it’s seriously a good idea (actually it’s a necessity) to get yourself a portfolio page.

You’ve all heard of one, but what are the top considerations to keep in mind when making yours the best it can be?

Thanks to this amazing guide by Jelisaveta Sapardic over at Qode Magazine, you’ll learn everything from what to display to how to display it.

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Jon Tewes

Jon is the founder and owner of DesignBy2s. He believes that helping small businesses with web design here in Lincoln Nebraska is about more than just building a website. It's about building a relationship with the business and striving to provide the best return on their investment.